What a day...

Mark Eatherton1

I spent the day (8-1/2 hours) talking to 50 building inspection officials about the right way to do radiant floor heating systems. I taught the 8 hour Radiant Basics course to them. Don't try to pull the wool over these guys eyes. They were telling me about contractors who refused to install insulation under slab on grade considerations because "It don't make a darned bit of difference".

Well, I connected to the right people. THey're going to make a move to adopt the RPA guidelines as it pertains to insulation standards. Should be in the 09 ICC codes.

While I was at it, I told them what I knew about CO ,and asked them how hard it would be to institute a requirement to require contractors to perform combustion analysis upon the start up of gas fired appliances. They said they thought it was an EXCELLENT idea, and that they'd attempt to get that into the code as well.

We also discussed the current standards (or lack thereof) pertaining to the alarm levels of CO detectors. They said that was out of thier hands, but that they could influence certain parties to review the standards and possibly move towards adopting something new.

When asked why CO detectors wer not a requiremnt of the code, they were dumbfounded, and I could see some wheels turning. You see, they don't have to wait for it to become a national requirement before its instituted...

All in all, an excellent day. I gave out more buiness cards to these guys than I have at the last two Home and Garbage shows:-)

As soon as I become a member, the RPA will have the names and addresses of all the attendees, and the RPA will be sending them their free copy of the Installation Guidelines.

Who knows, mayvbe some day we'll actually have a working model hydronic radiant code! Wouldn't THAT be a hoot...

ME

Pat Clark

Good job Mark

Its nice to know some inspectors are willing to listen and not just be too full of themselves because they are important. I have known a few over the years.

Pat Clark

ScottMP

Mark

Great job. Here in Mass we have plumbing and gas inspectors and thats it. Oil boilers are inspected by the Fire dept. and the gas inpsector does the gas boilers. NO ONE looks at the radiant or any system piping. What is the designation of these inspecotrs in your state ?

Thanks Scott

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jeff_51

we have to do co test on every new install or any time a house

is sold. PEOPLE DIE OTHERWISE

Mad Dog

The code of the human conscience supercedes all..............

mE TOO , pAT. Fine work Mr Mark...this is how things start to change. Mad Dog

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Mark Eatherton1

The state of Colorado...

only provide plumbing inspections. Mechanical inspections are done by the local AHJ, either county, township or city.

Colorado, oddly enough, does NOT require licensure of HVAC contractors. So if you're a hack looking for a place to practice your hacking, Colorado is THEE place:-)

We attempted to get something through the legislature about 6 years ago, and we smacked down by someone we hadn't expected to be in opposition, The City and County of Denver! Seems they thought they'd lose a substantial chunk of their annual revenue from requiring plumbers to be locally licensed... Electricians are required to be state licensed, and they have to register locally, and the registration fee is the same cost as their license use to be.

Sometimes I just don't understand the logic being applied...or LACK thereof.

ME

ME

Mark Eatherton1

Thanks Dawg..

Just doin' the job the good Lord dropped me on the face of this fine Earth to do... Congrats on your upcoming child!

ME

Mark Eatherton1

Jeff, are you saying...

it's mandatory under the law of the land? If yes, where are you? Or are you saying that we MUST (consience based) test?

ME

steve gates

the hacks are here

and no gc license either. Double hacks.

Weezbo

it musta been fun

i would think you secretly enjoyed tweaking the ideas of a set of standars in on them :)only is in some things there is no real joy in preaching to the new choir :)now that you have got them on a similar page ...:) ....you got to re enforce thier eucation...:) so write up a quick synopsis of the meeting and send it to them with a question about the time of day they got your e-mail :)next week send them a picture of one of the more "avant gard"installations vs one steeped in reckless abandon ask them if they have any idea as to what minor technicalities exist in the install of this century verses one of the more outta whack install of mr,Hack get a dash of forced involvement by asking them for a picture of the next couple examples they come across ...tell them you are considering using the pic as a "teaching aid" ...maybe that will get them a chance to think on the topic a few more times sorta like watering a plant ,after the seed is sown

Mark Eatherton1

I forgot to mention...

I spoke with them at length about the use of water heaters as single source DHW/Space heating systems and they agreed with me that they should, and probably WILL be illegal in the near future...

Score one BIG one for the licensed plumbers :-)

ME